'Lessons learned' after Bristol 2010 election blunders

  • Published

Bristol City Council has been heavily criticised in a report, which analysed problems in the run-up to this year's general and local elections.

Thousands of postal voters in Bristol West received papers meant for Bristol East and ballot papers were found in the wrong box, delaying results.

Communication failure and human error were amongst the faults identified.

The council, which commissioned the independent study, said lessons had been learned.

Results unaffected

The report made 36 recommendations for improvements to the running of future elections in the city.

They include establishment of a cross-party elections committee and strengthening the monitoring of poll card and postal vote printing and delivery.

Improved customer service, in particular the way telephone enquiries are handled, was also recommended.

Jan Ormondroyd, chief executive, said: "The report follows a rigorous and thorough review into the problems of the 2010 elections in the city.

"It clearly shows that errors were made and we want to learn from these, but the Electoral Commission endorses the view of the returning officer that there is no reason to doubt the overall integrity of the election and hence the results."

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